Himachal High Court bans animal sacrifice at religious places

In an order, Justice Rajeev Sharma said no animal sacrifice will be allowed in any religious places or areas close to them.

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Satender Chauhan

Chandigarh

September 1, 2014

UPDATED: September 1, 2014 23:08 IST

No more animal sacrifice

No more animal sacrifice

Cracking whip on those involved in animal sacrifice in the name of religious practices, the Himachal Pradesh High Court, after hearing a public interest litigation, has ordered a complete ban on it. The incidents of animal sacrifices for rituals are rampant in the state.

The court observed that the state government must educate people about the menace. In an order, Justice Rajeev Sharma said no animal sacrifice will be allowed in any religious places or areas close to them. He also ordered all district collectors, SPs, and other officers to ensure the ban is effectively enforced.

The order read that "No person throughout the State of Himachal Pradesh shall sacrifice any animal in any place of public religious worship, including all lands and building near such places of religious worship, which are ordinarily connected for religious purposes or in any ceremony/Yagya/ congregation or procession connected with any religious worship in a public street."

The petitioner had presented some photographs in the court to bring to the its notice the magnitude of the problem in some areas of the state where the practice has been observed during religious ceremonies.